Report: Thematic visit on TRACE/Zimbabwe (new funding opportunity for CS partners) and CIVICUS (possible datasharing opportunities) South Africa/Zimbabwe 23.-28.November 2015 Søren Asboe, dec. 2015

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 TRACE: A new funding opportunity for Civil Society ......................................................................................... 2 Observations:................................................................................................................................................. 3 Conclusions and recommendations: ............................................................................................................. 5 CIVICUS: Possible datasharing and areas for partnership in 2016 .................................................................... 7 Observations on data sharing:....................................................................................................................... 7 Recommendations:........................................................................................................................................ 9

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Introduction The new CISU Strategy 2014-17 is emphasising that CISU should enhance its cooperation with funds and capacity networks in the Global South as to facilitate that members and their partners would have improved access to information on how South funds and capacity networks are operating. Danida's new Civil Society Policy is also paying high attention to the potential of providing more funds and capacity services through South funds and network and this is of increasing importance to CISU members and their partners. In light of the above CISU has made a plan for its work in the Global South where identification of relevant South funds and capacity networks constitute an important basis for sharing this information with its members and their partners. Another part of the plan is to identify relevant resource persons from South funds and networks, who - where relevant and feasible -may provide inputs to CISU capacity services to its members. CISU is as part of its thematic visits to the Global South every year conducting a number of contextual visits with the aim to collect information on the context in selected countries.

TRACE: A new funding opportunity for Civil Society Background: Since 2012 CISU has been a close observer of how the donor community funds CS through socalled Multi donor Pooled Funds. CISU has made recommendations to the Civil Society Policy concerning best practice for establishing such Pooled Funds. CISU also gave input to Danida's renewed country strategy for Zimbabwe on the specific proposal to support a new Pooled Fund (TRACE). TRACE will be a very likely funding opportunity for a number of partners to CISU member organisations. A visit to TRACE (which at the time of the visit had initiated the first 'call for proposal’ cycle) gave an insight into the funding opportunity, and also to what extend the granting practice will be a relevant opportunity for CS, including an assessment of how TRACE - as a pooled fund – have been aligned to guiding principles described in the Danida Civil Society Policy (see annex 1). The context somehow changed from the time of deciding to do this visit (spring 2015) and to the time of writing the ToR. The expected reduction in Danish Development assistance was announced in October 2015, and it was known at the time of writing the ToR, that Zimbabwe was most likely to be phased out, and consequently also the future Danida support for TRACE. However, the key interest has not been on the relationship between Danish funding and TRACE, but rather on the aspect of Multi Donor pooled funds providing ‘good granting practice’. However, the possible consequences of the fast withdrawal of Danida funding from TRACE has been a point of interest of this visit. Core organisations met: A. TRACE was visited as on the first day to get an overview. Not much published material has been made available on the web (TRACE is yet to launch their website), but a few documents related to the first call for proposal had been available. B. NANGO – the largest CSO network in Zimbabwe. (views on TRACE form a CS perspective, and link to EU Road Map for Engagement with CS) C. Danish Embassy (role as TRACE donor) D. EU representation (EUs role in donor coordination of support to CS as part of the EU Road Map process) E. CSOs a. YETT, having submitted concept note to TRACE (partner to DUF) b. PLAN Zimbabwe, having submitted concept note to TRACE (country office of PLAN Danmark)

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Zimbabwe Lawyers in Human Rights, having submitted concept note and part of consortium having applied to TRACE (former project funded by Danish Embassy as part of Governance programme)

Observations: Basis approach: TRACE (programme period 2014 -2019) is being implemented by DAI (US/British based consultancy, www.dai.com). The British consultancy Coffey (whom CISU knows from phase I of STAR/Ghana) has been contracted to do Quality Insurance (QI) of the TRACE programme. NANGO1 and Coffey in an alliacne had also sumbitted a bid fopr TRACE, but was not chosen. According to NANGO becasuse NANGO was considered too close to the CSOs. TRACE has started operations with the publishing of the first call for Proposals with a deadline for submission on 28 August 2015. TRACE is in its learning phase, so the first call for proposals were rather open in scope.

BOX 1: TRACE Goal and Themes The design of TRACE has been informed by extensive consultation with civil society organizations and other stakeholders and will engage across seven key thematic areas. They are: 1. effective citizen engagement around improving service delivery and transparent, accountable use of public and natural resources; 2. vulnerable and marginalised groups empowered to access justice 3. protection and promotion of equality and human rights by civil society and communities; 4. effective civil society monitoring and advocacy for improvements to the electoral cycle; 5. improved media environment and increased citizen access to quality independent media, research and information; 6. Strengthen local/national coalitions around issues of public interest, informed by public policy research. 7. Improve the effectiveness and coordination of civil society engaging on democratic governance issues. (from TRACE briefing notes for interested CSOs)

TRACE is mainly being funded by DFID funds, and both the administration and much of the capacity building is being funded by DFID, while the two other present donors (AusAid and Danida) mainly provides direct grant funding. The approach is very much based on the DFID approach which is known form other similar MDFs (eg. STAR/Ghana), which includes: -

Using Political Economic Analysis (PEA) as a point of departure for indentifying relevant intervention areas and priorities. Value for Money approach Theory of Change, both at the level of TRACE, but also as a requirement of proposal design. Due diligence procedures following DFID standards.

As can be seen from the goals and themes (box 1) the scope of TRACE is rather broad, and can embrace a wide range of different types of CSOs. However, the focus is still on CSOs role in advocacy, empowerment and Human Rights, which brings it in line with the Danida CS policy.

Preparation and design: Donors and implementers (DAI) has only to a limited extend involved local CS in preparation. This is justified partly because of the relatively poor organization of CS in Zimbabwe, and partly because of the political situation that makes open-ended consultations difficult. The design process has mainly been driven by DAI as a very experienced consultancy, drawing from experiences from similar granting mechanisms. DIFD, Danida and AusAid has been involved, as they were

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NANGO National umbrella organization for CSOs in Zimbabwe. Are also member of CIVICUS/AGNA.

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all three expected to play a role in rolling out TRACE. However, AusAid is now out, and Danida has partly withdrawn because of the decision to withdraw bilateral Danida support to Zimbabwe. Operations, capacity building and outreach of TRACE: TRACE was just made operational in autumn of 2016. The fist call for proposal process was announced in summer 2016, and shortlisted candidates has been invited to submit complete applications in October 2016. 229 Concept notes were received. 20 (